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The Monitor
Keeping the Pulse on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps • Vol. 4, Issue 3 – Fall 09
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
PERMIT No. 1078
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
8 1
The Monitor
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy And Prepared Communities!
In This Fall 2009 Issue:
FRONT PAGE
H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic.........................................................................................................................Pages 1-3
MRC PARTNERS’ POINTS
Local News from MRC Partners...................................................................................................................... Page 3
CARING, CAPABLE & READY
Creek County MRC Operates First-Aid Tent.................................................................................................. Page 4
Ponca City Receives Psych First Aid Training................................................................................................ Page 4
FRIENDS IN FOCUS
Janet Gallegly.................................................................................................................................................. Page 5
American Red Cross 100th Anniversary.......................................................................................................... Page 5
MRC WEB TRAINING
Training Information....................................................................................................................................... Page 5
6th ANNUAL NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH................................................................................ Page 6
VITAL STEPS
OKMRC Region 5 Units Expand.................................................................................................................... Page 7
Volunteer Recruitment Tip.............................................................................................................................. Page 7
For more information please visit the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps Web site at okmrc.org
The MRC Monitor is published quarterly by the
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps,
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 USA.
All rights reserved.
NATION BRACES FOR H1N1
‘SWINE’ FLU GLOBAL PANDEMIC See Page 6!
Americans are urged to prepare for the H1N1 (swine) flu — even healthy
people, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Vital information
regarding the essential facts about the virus, myths, how you can prevent it and
what to do if you’ve got it can ultimately help protect you and your family.
History — Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that
first infected people in Mexico and the United States in March and April 2009.
The virus most likely spread from person-to-person in the same way regular
seasonal influenza viruses spread. On
June 11, 2009, the World Health
Organization (WHO) signaled a
pandemic of novel H1N1 flu
was underway by raising the
worldwide pandemic alert to
phase 6. The H1N1’s alert
level is a reflection of
the spread of the new
virus to dozens of
countries worldwide,
not the severity of
illness caused by the
virus.
Vaccine Status
— An effective
vaccine against
the H1N1 virus
is expected to
become available to
the general public
this fall. However,
federal health
officials warn it’s not
a cure-all and are
urging Americans
to maintain good
hygiene and
coughing etiquette even
after they’re vaccinated. CDC
officials report they expect between 45
million and 52 million doses of the vaccine by
mid-October, followed by roughly 195 million doses by
the end of the year. Five manufacturers are producing vaccine
which is an elaborate and time-consuming process
that involves growing the virus inside specially selected chicken eggs.
The CDC and its international counterparts provided the manufacturers with
new H1N1 strains in hopes they may be able to produce vaccines faster.
Unfortunately, the initial strains in use produce a fraction of the output of typical
strains of seasonal flu. H1N1 vaccines are undergoing human trials at eight
locations around the country, including Emory University — which is located next
to the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta.
Contagiousness — H1N1 is thought to spread in the same way that regular
seasonal influenza viruses spread — mainly through the coughs and sneezes
of people who are sick. But touching objects that are carrying the virus and then
touching your nose or mouth may also spread it. While the H1N1 virus has
sickened tens of thousands of people and closed summer camps in a season
when there should be little flu activity, it has killed far fewer than the 36,000
Americans who die from seasonal influenza each year.
Symptoms — According to the CDC Web site, the H1N1 symptoms
include fever, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills
and fatigue. Some people with the virus have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
If you feel any of these symptoms, see your health care provider immediately.
Treatment — Seek medical help if you experience flu-like symptoms,
especially shortness of breath or a fever higher than 101 degrees. If
you are diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, your health care provider may
prescribe the popular antiviral medications Tamiflu or Relenza.
You will need to stay home and limit personal contact until
you finish the treatment regimen. The CDC
also recommends that you should
stay home until 24
hours after your
fever breaks.
The CDC
had also
recommend-ed
using
oseltamivir or
zanamivir for
the treatment
and/or
prevention of
infection with
novel H1N1
flu virus.
Antiviral
drugs are
prescription
medicines
(pills, liquid
or an inhaled
powder) which fight
against the flu by keeping
flu viruses from reproducing in
your body. If you get sick, antiviral
drugs can make your illness less severe,
shorten the duration and help prevent other serious flu
complications. During the current pandemic, the priority use for
influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness for patients
who have been hospitalized as well as people who are sick and have a
condition that places them at higher risk for complications.
Avoid Hospital ERs — The emergency room can be a breeding ground
for flu viruses and should be avoided as a precaution unless of course you
have an underlying medical condition along with mild flu symptoms or an
actual medical emergency. A few of the underlying conditions listed include
asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney
disease, neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy as
examples.
Who’s Most At Risk? — Everyone is susceptible to this virus, but thus
far it appears to affect children, young adults and pregnant women most.
Women who are pregnant should definitely get vaccinated against H1N1,
as the virus can affect the brains of unborn babies. Pregnant women
also account for 6 percent of the deaths that have occurred in the U.S.
Academia Precautions — Just like colleges and universities, public
(continued on page 2)

The Monitor
Keeping the Pulse on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps • Vol. 4, Issue 3 – Fall 09
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
PERMIT No. 1078
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
8 1
The Monitor
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy And Prepared Communities!
In This Fall 2009 Issue:
FRONT PAGE
H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic.........................................................................................................................Pages 1-3
MRC PARTNERS’ POINTS
Local News from MRC Partners...................................................................................................................... Page 3
CARING, CAPABLE & READY
Creek County MRC Operates First-Aid Tent.................................................................................................. Page 4
Ponca City Receives Psych First Aid Training................................................................................................ Page 4
FRIENDS IN FOCUS
Janet Gallegly.................................................................................................................................................. Page 5
American Red Cross 100th Anniversary.......................................................................................................... Page 5
MRC WEB TRAINING
Training Information....................................................................................................................................... Page 5
6th ANNUAL NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH................................................................................ Page 6
VITAL STEPS
OKMRC Region 5 Units Expand.................................................................................................................... Page 7
Volunteer Recruitment Tip.............................................................................................................................. Page 7
For more information please visit the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps Web site at okmrc.org
The MRC Monitor is published quarterly by the
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps,
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 USA.
All rights reserved.
NATION BRACES FOR H1N1
‘SWINE’ FLU GLOBAL PANDEMIC See Page 6!
Americans are urged to prepare for the H1N1 (swine) flu — even healthy
people, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Vital information
regarding the essential facts about the virus, myths, how you can prevent it and
what to do if you’ve got it can ultimately help protect you and your family.
History — Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that
first infected people in Mexico and the United States in March and April 2009.
The virus most likely spread from person-to-person in the same way regular
seasonal influenza viruses spread. On
June 11, 2009, the World Health
Organization (WHO) signaled a
pandemic of novel H1N1 flu
was underway by raising the
worldwide pandemic alert to
phase 6. The H1N1’s alert
level is a reflection of
the spread of the new
virus to dozens of
countries worldwide,
not the severity of
illness caused by the
virus.
Vaccine Status
— An effective
vaccine against
the H1N1 virus
is expected to
become available to
the general public
this fall. However,
federal health
officials warn it’s not
a cure-all and are
urging Americans
to maintain good
hygiene and
coughing etiquette even
after they’re vaccinated. CDC
officials report they expect between 45
million and 52 million doses of the vaccine by
mid-October, followed by roughly 195 million doses by
the end of the year. Five manufacturers are producing vaccine
which is an elaborate and time-consuming process
that involves growing the virus inside specially selected chicken eggs.
The CDC and its international counterparts provided the manufacturers with
new H1N1 strains in hopes they may be able to produce vaccines faster.
Unfortunately, the initial strains in use produce a fraction of the output of typical
strains of seasonal flu. H1N1 vaccines are undergoing human trials at eight
locations around the country, including Emory University — which is located next
to the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta.
Contagiousness — H1N1 is thought to spread in the same way that regular
seasonal influenza viruses spread — mainly through the coughs and sneezes
of people who are sick. But touching objects that are carrying the virus and then
touching your nose or mouth may also spread it. While the H1N1 virus has
sickened tens of thousands of people and closed summer camps in a season
when there should be little flu activity, it has killed far fewer than the 36,000
Americans who die from seasonal influenza each year.
Symptoms — According to the CDC Web site, the H1N1 symptoms
include fever, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills
and fatigue. Some people with the virus have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
If you feel any of these symptoms, see your health care provider immediately.
Treatment — Seek medical help if you experience flu-like symptoms,
especially shortness of breath or a fever higher than 101 degrees. If
you are diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, your health care provider may
prescribe the popular antiviral medications Tamiflu or Relenza.
You will need to stay home and limit personal contact until
you finish the treatment regimen. The CDC
also recommends that you should
stay home until 24
hours after your
fever breaks.
The CDC
had also
recommend-ed
using
oseltamivir or
zanamivir for
the treatment
and/or
prevention of
infection with
novel H1N1
flu virus.
Antiviral
drugs are
prescription
medicines
(pills, liquid
or an inhaled
powder) which fight
against the flu by keeping
flu viruses from reproducing in
your body. If you get sick, antiviral
drugs can make your illness less severe,
shorten the duration and help prevent other serious flu
complications. During the current pandemic, the priority use for
influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness for patients
who have been hospitalized as well as people who are sick and have a
condition that places them at higher risk for complications.
Avoid Hospital ERs — The emergency room can be a breeding ground
for flu viruses and should be avoided as a precaution unless of course you
have an underlying medical condition along with mild flu symptoms or an
actual medical emergency. A few of the underlying conditions listed include
asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney
disease, neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy as
examples.
Who’s Most At Risk? — Everyone is susceptible to this virus, but thus
far it appears to affect children, young adults and pregnant women most.
Women who are pregnant should definitely get vaccinated against H1N1,
as the virus can affect the brains of unborn babies. Pregnant women
also account for 6 percent of the deaths that have occurred in the U.S.
Academia Precautions — Just like colleges and universities, public
(continued on page 2)